Early intervention services for

individuals with disabilities.

Emily L. Kirkham

Applied Developmental Psychology

Spalding University

Fall 2010

What is early intervention?

• “a statewide, comprehensive, coordinated, multidisciplinary, interagency system that provides early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families.”

• range of services designed to intervene at the early stages of an infant or toddler’s disability.

• Early intervention services children for free or little cost from birth to age three.

When to talk to your doctor?

• Understand your child’s developmental milestones-http://firstsigns.org/healthydevmilestones.html

• If your child is not meeting their milestones always talk to your physician

• Be Prepared• Express your concerns clearly• Speak directly about

milestones• Ask Questions• Always follow up!

How to qualify?

• In order to qualify for early intervention services you will need to have a disability in one of the following area’s:

• physical

• cognitive

• adaptive

• communicative

• social and/or emotional development

What services can you receive?

• screening and assessment;

• family training

• counseling

• home visits

• speech therapy and occupational therapy

• psychological services

• audiology and vision services;

• social work services

Getting in contact with the “System”

• Contact your “child find agency” in your state. Child find helps identify individuals who may qualify for services

• Contact for KY: http

://www.education.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/4A7D5460-4E66-4AD2-AD58-3C3E7BAB5847 ToolkitNarrative71009Final1.pdf

Resource Sheet

Sample Record-Keeping Worksheet

Problem/Topic:

Name of person or agency you talked to:

Name of your contact person (may be same as above):

Date you called:

Phone #

Results of discussion:

Action taken (if any):

Once your in the system!

• Once you are in the system you will have a temporary service coordinator who will assist you with the screening and assessment process

• Every individual must go through the screening process before they can receive any services

• The assessment is free to all families whether they qualify for services or not.

You Qualify what’s Next?

• Once the multidisciplinary team determines your child eligible the team will write an individualized family service plan or an IFSP.

• “An IFSP is a written document that, among other things, outlines the early intervention services that your child and family will receive.”

• “IFSP is a whole family plan with the parents as major contributors in its development.”

IFSP Con’t.

The IFSP should always include:• Current Ability

• Family Information

• Goals and Objectives regarding individual outcomes after services

• Specific Services individual will receive

• Where are services being provided

• Number of days or sessions for services and how long will the individual receive these services

• Payment of services

• Who is the service coordinator

• A plan for transition once early intervention services expires.

I still have questions…

• If you still have questions regarding early intervention services contact the following for answers:

• Your child’s service coordinator

• Local Parent Support Groups

• NICHCY- http://www.nichcy.org/Pages/Home.aspx

Resources

• http://www.nichcy.org/Pages/Home.aspx

• www.firstsigns.org

• http://www.nichcy.org/InformationResources/Documents/NICHCY%20PUBS/pa2.pdf

• http://chfs.ky.gov/dph/firststeps.htm

• http://www.education.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/3DFDF58D-C03C-4929-8D7D-762D34198B67/0/ChildFindOut.pdf